Palladium Books® Weekly Update – October 4, 2012

By Kevin Siembieda

A story of triumph

I know some of you are frustrated and disheartened by sliding release dates. We are too. I know I’ve been saying great books are coming soon, and except for one or two here and there, you’re still waiting. Ah, but think about it. The books that have come out were indeed epic, weren’t they? Yes, they were. And so will be those that follow. More fun and exciting titles are just around the corner.

I don’t think people realize how tough things have been the last several years, how exhausting it has been, or how close we’ve come to closing our doors more than once. I say that because it has come up in conversation a few times lately. The most recent with a couple of retailers at the Alliance Open House. These good folks were surprised to learn that Palladium wasn’t a big company like WotC, Fantasy Flight or Paizo. And stunned to hear about our problems in recent years. I actually took that as a compliment, because they considered Palladium’s products top notch and right up with these other illustrious companies. Truth is, since the Crisis of Treachery until this year, things had been very, very rough. There were many times we wondered how we were going to pay rent and keep the doors open. I cashed out my retirement fund and sold collectibles to keep us going. Every one of my wonderful freelance writers and artists worked for Palladium waiting to get paid for long periods of time.

This isn’t a sob story. This is a story of triumph. Our persistence, sacrifices and hard work are finally starting to pay off. Your patience and support is about to be rewarded.

Things have gotten much, much better for Palladium Books this year. Palladium’s crowdfunding efforts were of huge benefit and helped on many fronts. Dynamic new releases like Rifts® Lemuria, Rifts® Black Market and Endless Dead™, that wowed and created buzz, helped a great deal too. Our sales have steadily increased all year long. Gamers, retailers and distributors are excited about Palladium product again. That leads to more buzz, new customers and more sales. With stronger financial resources at our disposal, we’ve been able to do more. More advertising, more reprints, more artwork in books, pay down debt, etc.

On the creative front, Palladium’s talented freelancers have never been more galvanized and motivated. The same is true of the Palladium staff. I wish you knew everything we are talking about and working on.

Yes, books are late. Yes, deadlines keep slipping. But don’t get disheartened now. Not when we are turning the proverbial corner. Not when things are looking better than they have in the last six years! Not after everything we’ve all been through. And yes, that includes you, our fans. I know the vast majority of you are positive and hanging in there with us, and I hear and understand the complaints and frustration of those who are afraid to trust and be hopeful.

I’ve said it before, when you’ve been laid low to the devastating degree Palladium Books was, it takes time to recover. Matters are complicated and a terrible situation is made worse when other problems and smaller crises crop up: Global economic collapse, the unexpected and devastating death of Erick Wujcik, the lose of my Dad and others close to us, health issues of our own and loved ones, house fire, etc. Looking back, I don’t know how we did survive some of it. There were times I didn’t think we could make it. Times when it was difficult to muster creativity. Times when we wanted to give up because it was the easy way out. I couldn’t have done it alone. I thank God for the wealth of friends I have been so blessed with and the army of amazing Palladium supporters.

Yes, books are late, but it’s not because we don’t care. And it sure isn’t because we are not working hard, even insane, long hours 6-7 days a week. We have been doing so for years now.

Know that we care. We care about you and care about our products. We don’t do cookie-cutter books or turn out sub-par product to meet a deadline. We challenge ourselves to always do our best, try new things, and be true to you and ourselves. You can ask any of the Palladium freelancers, I am always pushing myself and them to take our craft to the next level.

I said this earlier this year, but my goal is to wow and excite you with every book we do. I want to exceed your expectations and surprise you. We’ve done that with Rifts® Lemuria and Rifts® Black Market to be sure. I think we’ll do it with the upcoming Rifts® titles that we’ve been advertising for so long, and if everything works out the way we plan, we’ll do it with the Robotech® game pieces, Chaos Earth™, Beyond the Supernatural™ and most of the products in the pipeline.

I want to inflame your imaginations and remind you why role-playing is so much fun with every new RPG release. That’s why we do the Palladium Christmas Surprise Packages, to give back, say thank you, to do something to make you smile and help inflame your imaginations.

Is Palladium back? We’re getting there. And fast now. We still need to make a few moves. I need to hire some additional staff next year, and we sure as heck need to get new product released, and now! (It’s coming. Really.) I think the next four new releases after The Rifter® #60 and our 2013 products will answer that question for us all.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing my thoughts and feelings about what’s going on at Palladium Books. Be positive and excited. We are. And we’re about to give you good reason for it. This isn’t hype. It’s real. It’s happening. You’ll see very soon.

UPDATE: Palladium Christmas Surprise Packages

We are taking orders for the 2012 Christmas Surprise Packages right now. Wayne sent an email to those of you already on our mailing list, and the product description in the Palladium Online Store. I’d say you can start placing your orders as of today, but we have already received a couple dozen, so keep them coming. Please note that we’ll start processing X-Mas Grab Bag orders right away, but the first batch probably will NOT start shipping till next week sometime. I spent some of my time over the weekend and earlier this week prepping for the Christmas Surprise Package and we are ready.

What is the Christmas Surprise Package? A way for you to get a pile of Palladium product, original artwork, prints, out of print copies of The Rifter®, miniatures, autographs and surprises at low prices.

It involves you sending Santa Kevin a “Wish List” of 10-12 different in-stock products and a flat payment (+ shipping and handling). I then hand-pick items from that Wish List and I may include product you didn’t ask for (hence the nickname, “X-Mas Grab Bag”), but all things I think you’ll enjoy, and we ship it all off to you. Gamers have been loving this special offer for 14 or 15 years now. You should have gotten an email with the full description, or you can see the description and ordering process in the Palladium Online Store. Enjoy and happy holidays from everyone at Palladium Books.

UPDATE: Online Sales

Online sales have been slow but steady, as people are waiting for new product releases and the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package Offer. Both are on their way.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #60 in final layout

The Rifter® #60 nears completion and will go to the printer any time now. Hey, some books just take longer to finish, sometimes even The Rifter®, and issue #60 is an excellent one packed with wonderful ideas and useful source material for how to introduce role-playing games to children, plus Rifts®, Splicers®, Nightbane®, and more. We’re waiting to get the ship date from our printer, but they are estimating a ship date of October 22, 2012. We’ll let you know when we get a confirmed date.

If you’ve never taken a look at The Rifter® you might want to ask for one or several issues when you order a Christmas Surprise Package. Most issues are jam-packed with stimulating material you can drop right into your own game, adapt and modify, or give you new insight or way of looking at gaming.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #50, Anniversary Issue – back in print soon

We have sent The Rifter® #50 back in for a short, special printing.

128 pages – $14.95 retail – Cat. No. 150. Contains source material for Rifts®, Chaos Earth™, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas and Superspies™, Splicers® and the Palladium Fantasy RPG®. Ships the same time as The Rifter® #60, which is now estimated as October 22.

UPDATE: Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook

The tweaking and editing is done and will be sent to Harmony Gold for approval. I’ll be assigning artwork as soon as we get approval of the text from Harmony Gold. At this point Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook seems likely to ship in November.

UPDATE: Robotech® Tactical Role-Playing Game

This week has been jumping with activity on this front as Palladium works to nail down a formal agreement with the force we want behind the design of the game, packaging and sculpting. Emails and telephone calls have been flying between Palladium and numerous parties; I have reviewed a draft agreement of a work document, written a product outline, and been fielding follow-up calls all week. It is an adrenaline rush that should result in products that will wow and delight Robotech® fans of every stripe. Starting with plans to bring you more RPG products and gorgeous 1/285th game pieces for all eras of Robotech® by summer next year.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook

I’ve actually done a little work on the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook and have been in communication with my artists as Matthew Clements and I add new material to the book. Along those lines, I’ve been communicating with many of Palladium’s writers and artists as we gear up to finalize our much awaited 2012 releases, and line up our 2013 projects. Everyone is pumped up and onboard.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun™ One and Two

Chuck Walton has renewed his efforts to finish his art commitments for Northern Gun One and Two, even as he deals with a number of unexpected family matters. Matthew Clements is dropping in some additions and fine-tuning material.

UPDATE: Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

This book is going to be epic in scope. Still hoping to get it out by the end of the year and will do my best to make it happen.

UPDATE: Sneak Previews

We’ll be posting FREE teasers and sneak previews of upcoming releases on DriveThruRPG.com as soon as we can. With any luck, that will be in a few weeks.

UPDATE: Other Titles and Projects

EVERYTHING is moving forward.

SOMETHING SPECIAL: Mark Dudley’s Comic Book Kickstarter

I thought Palladium fans might want to know about this. Palladium’s very own Mark Dudley is spearheading an exciting project. A start-up company he and his teammates are calling the Imaginos Workshop and a comic book they call Imaginos Plus.

Imaginos is a think tank of artists, writers and creators dedicated to helping others unleash their imaginations, as well as a vehicle by which to unleash their own. This includes hosting Imaginos Workshops for school age young people to show them how to use their artistic talents and dare to dream. How awesome is that?

The personal mission of the Imaginos Workshop founders is to give new talent a home. A place where they can generate intellectual properties for comic books, TV pilots and movie scripts.

To launch this ambitious project, Mark and company are starting with their driving passion for comic books and the launch of a comic book title they’re calling Imaginos Plus. It is an anthology comic book to introduce three core comic book ideas: Requiem (sci-fi conspiracy), Candy Coated (superhero humor inspired by RPG adventures while playing Heroes Unlimited!) and Juda Fist (superhero drama and martial arts action).

Mark Dudley and I are close friends, so I have unique insight to these projects and the people behind them. The idea behind Candy Coated is hilarious, Juda Fist (100% Mark Dudley) sounds like it rocks and Requiem is intriguing.

If given the chance via their current, ongoing Kickstarter crowdfunding offering, I, for one, would like to see what these creative minds can accomplish. They already have the entire script for each comic done, and are busy completing the pencil art for the comic book pages. A successful Kickstarter will enable them to pay the inkers and colorists, and cover the cost of printing of the first issue of Imaginos Plus. Who knows where things may go from there.

Most of you are familiar with Mark Dudley through his artwork that has appeared in numerous Palladium publications over the years. What you may not know is that this man is an idea factory with a passion for telling dynamic stories in comic book and other visual mediums. He’s a guy who tries to help others and give fledgling talent a chance to showcase their abilities. Mark is also one heck of a Game Master and, through thick and thin, he’s been there to support me and Palladium Books. Now I’m returning the favor.

I’m giving Mark and Imaginos Workshop my support. I hope you’ll take a look at their Kickstarter and, if you like what you see, I encourage you to lend them your support as well, even if it’s a $1, $5 or $10 pledge. Every little bit helps and it all adds up. Oh, and if you choose to support Imaginos Plus, please spread the word so others can find and support this venture too. Palladium started out small like this, and look at all the things we’ve accomplished over the years. Who knows, this could be the start of something new and exciting.

Good luck with this Kickstarter, Mark. Whether it succeeds or fails (and I hope you reach your Kickstarter goal), I applaud you, Joe and the rest of the Imaginos crew for sticking your necks out and taking a chance. I love to see creative people dare to bring their dreams to life.

UPDATE: Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store

I’ve been busy working on Palladium projects, Alex and I will be adding a few new Palladium collectibles every few days to my online store. Note: There are no more than five Rifts® Lemuria Emerald Editions earmarked for the store and other items such as the Rifts® Machinations of Doom Gold Hardcover, Rifts® RPG Silver hardcovers, BTS Gold, Rifts® Ultimate Gold, Erick Wujcik’s Amberzine #11, etc. are also in short supply. In most cases, I have only a dozen or fewer to offer. That’s why we continue to dole them out one at a time. Once they are sold out, of course, they are GONE! Other collectibles include first printings of books, signed books, “proofreader” copies of books (a couple more coming your way soon), original artwork, and other collectible odds and ends.

There are also a large number of collectible toys and action figures in my online store. All are from my personal collection. More toys and collectibles are added on a weekly basis.

Rifts® Black Market Hardcover

– Gold Contraband Edition – Available now!

Everything you want to know about the Black Market of Rifts® North America presented inside a pair of gorgeous black leatherette covers. Gold foil embossing on front cover and spine. Historically, gold collector editions only increase in value on the collector’s market, and often quickly. This is the lowest number of a Collector’s Gold Edition that Palladium has ever printed.

Rifts® Black Market™ – Softcover Edition – Available now

See what everyone is talking about and order yours today. Rifts® Black Market™ is an epic, 192 page sourcebook that contains a wealth of information about the inner workings of the Black Market, the Five Factions, new Bandito Arms/Black Market weapons and gear, how to make any O.C.C. a Black Marketeer, special abilities of the Black Marketeer, criminal enterprises, Black Market loans, merc and crime jobs, and much more. This book has it all. AND best of all, a lot of it can be easily adapted to just about any world setting, not just Rifts Earth.

Rules to make any O.C.C. (or R.C.C.) a Black Marketeer.

Special abilities and benefits of the Black Marketeer.

Specialized O.C.C.s of the Black Market.

Criminal enterprises, jobs, and inner workings of the Black Market.

The Five Black Market Factions that wield the greatest power in North America: Bandito Arms, The Chicago Network, The Immaterial Hand, El Oculta, and Le Marche Noir.

It’s Halloween Season – think zombies, try Dead Reign™

Dead Reign™ RPG – ideal introductory role-playing game

● It has clean, simple rules and quick character generation, and a depth of information and setting.

● Story and characters that hook readers within a few pages.

● A monster everyone loves to battle in a post-apocalyptic setting of survival and heroism.

● The core rule book is all you need to play. The sourcebooks expand the setting and offer many new avenues of adventure.

● Low price of entry at $22.95 for a complete RPG.

Dead Reign™ RPG is the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. Civilization is gone, the dead reign, and the living fight to survive against impossible odds. Tales of zombies, human survival and horror as a fast-paced, easy to learn game and sourcebooks.

Zombie combat rules, vehicles and equipment.

Six iconic Apocalyptic Character Classes and Ordinary People with 40+ occupations to choose from.

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – October Release

Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and food stock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions. In final production right now with art and text coming in and final editing and writing restarting next week.

More human kingdoms within Mexico like the Tampico Military Protectorate and Durango, the Silver City.

Firefighting robots, hover firetrucks and more anti-vampire gear.

Magic based Vampire Hunters and human strongholds.

Techno-Wizard anti-vampire weapons and magical devices.

Profiles for Doc Reid and Reid’s Rangers, the world’s most famous Vampire Hunters.

Fort Reid, an entire city devoted to hunting the undead.

The Bloodwatch, a secret vampire intelligence agency that tracks down and exterminates Vampire Hunters.

The Yucatan Peninsula, a mysterious dimensional pocket overrun by strange demons known as Xibalbans.

The return of the Mayan god Camazotz, Lord of Bats and Darkness.

The werebeasts of Mexico and Central America; those who assist the vampires and those who fight against them.

NEW! The Rifter® #60 – October Release

The Rifter® Number 60 is an action-packed issue that delves into adventure, magic, monsters and strange war machines. In production right now.

The Rifter® is an idea factory. The key to unlocking the unlimited resources of the imagination for numerous Palladium RPG world settings. It helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh, and provides useful, ready to go, source material that gamers can just drop into their ongoing games.

Every issue of The Rifter® offers new monsters, villains, characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, adventure and ideas for your use in games and campaigns. There is usually source material for at least 2-3 Palladium game lines, often more.

The Rifter® #60 includes:

Rifts® Black Market – Trust and Intimidate: A Way of Life, by Liam Gray.

Rifts® Sorcerer’s Forge – Timothy Dorman presents a secret community of Techno-Wizards and their unique TW weapons, power armor and gear, as well as details about the place and some interesting inhabitants.

Splicers® – Kris Tipping presents House Pandorum and a host of new Splicers weapons, armor, mutants and monsters.

Heroes Unlimited – Adventure by Thomas Morrison.

Modern Horror Short Story – J.V. Adams spins a tale of intrigue and mystery.

Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook

An in-depth look at the Invid Genesis Pits, their purpose, function and the creatures they create. Many, many avenues of adventure and ideas to spice up your Robotech® campaign with unexpected menaces and intrigue. In production right now!

Secrets of the Invid.

Notable Genesis Pits of Earth.

Genesis Pit mutations and monsters.

Different types of Genesis Pits from across the galaxy.

Inorganics and other war machines of the Invid Regent.

Ways to destroy a Genesis Pit.

Genesis Pit Monster creation tables and rules.

Bioroid and Zentraedi mutants, Simulagents and more.

Written by Irvin Jackson. 8½ x 11 size book format. Available only in the USA and Canada.

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun™ One

Northern Gun™ is the largest independent manufacturer of high-tech weapons, robots and vehicles in North America. Outside of the Coalition States, one could argue, no other kingdom is as powerful or influential, at least when it comes to technology and weapons. The manufacture and sale of Northern Gun weapons and vehicles has given virtually every kingdom, town, colony of settlers and adventurer group a chance to survive and prosper. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, NG has been the premier outfitter of mercenaries, adventurers and upstart kingdoms for generations. Now, for the first time ever, learn Northern Gun’s history, goals and plans for the future. Of course, that means new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and gear.

In-depth look at Northern Gun: its business operations and its community.

Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames™

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demons, Deevils and supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world.

Demon plagues and mystic blights.

Soulmancy and Blood Magic revealed.

Magical and demonic weapons and war machines.

Demonic armies, strongholds and places of evil.

Hell Pits and Rune Forges.

Many Demon Lords, their minions and plans.

Calgary, the Kingdom of Monsters; in detail.

Ciudad de Diablo, Harpies’ Island and other notable Hell holes on Earth.

Lord Doom, Pain and other demonic leaders.

Horune treachery, Dimension Stormers and other villains.

Notable demonic generals, mercenaries, people and places.

Battleground: Earth – as demons and infernals amass their legions.

Global chaos and the places most dramatically affected by the Demon Plagues.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia™

– Available now

Russian mythology and magic come to life in this fan favorite Rifts® World Book. The book includes all kinds of demons, monsters, new magic character classes (O.C.C.s), and nine different types of gypsies – some of whom are adventurers, others mystics and mages, some psychics and one is even a beguiling shape-shifter. Plus more background about Russia and the Sovietski.

36 Fire Magic spells.

29 Nature Magic spells.

18 Russian Demons, their powers and hierarchy.

10 Russian Woodland spirits, including the Man-Wolf and Werebests.

The Night Witch, Hidden Witch and Born Mystic O.C.C.s.

Necromancy and Necromancers expanded and their place in Russia.

The Russian Ley Line Walker character class (O.C.C.).

The Russian Shifter/Summoner O.C.C. (and all those demons to call upon).

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® One: Sedition™

– Available now

Magic vs Technology. The infamous Coalition/Siege on Tolkeen story arc starts with this 160 page sourcebook. Not only does it lay the groundwork for the Coalition’s all-out siege on the kingdom of magic, but it includes a vast number of Techno-Wizard weapons and vehicles, powerful magic artifacts, demons, monsters, magic and a historic Crisis Time-Line from 12 P.A. to 106 P.A.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® Two: Coalition Overkill™

– Available now

The Siege on Tolkeen goes into full swing as the Coalition Army makes the first devastating attacks on Tolkeen. Coalition Generals, Special Forces squads, and strategies are presented with a wealth of adventure ideas.

Rifts® Coalition Wars® Four: Cyber-Knights™

– Available now

We didn’t want you to forget about this excellent sourcebook in the series. The Coalition’s siege on Tolkeen has had a devastating impact on people across North America. None have been more affected than the Cyber-Knights. This sourcebook reveals not only the history and secrets of the Cyber-Knights, but the schism the war has created among the fabled warriors.

Rifts® World Book 23: Xiticix Invasion™

– Back in print – Available now

Earth is home to thousands of alien species from beyond the Rifts. One of the strangest and most dangerous is the Xiticix. A danger nobody seemed to realize until the sprawling Hivelands began to encroach on the territories of other people. Armed with new breeds of aggressive warriors, new weapons and legions of insectoids willing to fight to the death, people are beginning to wonder if they are the next threat to humanity.

Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two

– Back in print – Available now

The war between the people of the New German Republic and the Gargoyle Empire rages on, but only the heroes of the NGR seem to be getting the upper hand. See where things stand in the year 109 P.A. and get a closer look at the NGR Army, government, society and people. This World Book also presents the latest weapons, combat vehicles, power armor and robots of the NGR as well as commercial vehicles, robot helpers, and more.

27 new Triax weapons plus new body armor and additional gear.

10 new Triax giant robots including the Talon and Devastator II.

10 cars and commercial vehicles plus more than 50 special features.

9 new robot drones including robot assistants, pets and Spy ‘Bots.

6 new Triax power armor suits, including the Predator II, Ulti-Max II, War Eagle, Fat Boy, and a flying Glitter Boy.

Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®

– Back in Print – Available now

Archie 3 and Hagan Lonovich are two of the most beloved villains (anti-heroes?) in the Rifts Earth setting. This sourcebook highlights their strange relationship, plots and blunders. One of which is inadvertently unleashing The Mechanoids® into the world!

The Mechanoids have one driving goal: To destroy all humanoid life! This book has it all. Source material, the Mechanoids, new equipment, monsters, adventure and cryptic prophecies.

The prophecies of the Seven Dangers.

20+ Mechanoids and their robot legion.

Optional Mechanoids® Player Characters and character sheets.

Archie Three and Hagan: Heroes or villains?

The weapons and robot minions of Hagan Lonovich.

New creations from Archie Three and Hagan, plus more history and insight about the unlikely duo.